Team Hughes vs. Team Serra Episode 1 Recap
by Gavin Vincent on September 21, 2007

Season six of the popular Spike series kicked things off by introducing us to Matt Serra and Matt Hughes. Surprise, it's clear from the start that these two don't like each other.

There was some trash talk going back and forth through the press before the series and there are bitter feelings on both sides. We learn that Hughes has stated that he doesn't think Matt Serra is a top 10 welterweight, and Serra thinks Hughes is a "stuck-up jerk".

The show starts with Dana White and Matt Serra hanging out in the gym. Hughes comes in and smugly greats Matt Serra with a "What's up champ". Serra takes offense and basically tells Hughes that he doesn't like him or the way he treats people, so he doesn't want to pretend to be friends.

"I’ve got enough friends; I need some enemies," Serra said. "And you’re one of them."

The two coaches then avoid one another until the fighters show up. After the 16 contenders arrive they're put through an intensive workout period.

During this time we learn that Joe Scarola, one of the fighters, is also a Matt Serra student and one of his best friends. Hughes uses this to his advantage by telling Scarola that he wants to pick him even though Hughes has no interest in the inexperiencd New York fighter.

It turns out to be a great move for Hughes, as Serra (who won the coin toss and choose to pick first) becomes forced to pick Scarola with his first pick. This essentially gives Hughes the first pick as he wasn't going to pick the Scarola anyway. The picks played out as follows:

Team Serra: Joe Scarola, George Sotiropoulos, Matt Arroyo, John Koloski, Ben Saunders, Roman Mitichyan, Troy Mandaloniz and Richie Hightower

Team Hughes:Dan Barrera, Blake Bowman, Mac Danzig, Paul Georgieff, Billy Miles, Dorian Price, Jared Rollins, Tommy Speer

After the picks an injured Roman Mitichyan from Team Serra is sent to the hospital and learns that he has suffered a broken elbow and won't be able to compete. It's a shame because he is definitely one of the most colorful characters in the competition and would have been fun to watch. He is replaced by Jon “The War Machine” Koppenhaver.

Because Serra won the toss and chose to pick first, Hughes gets to set the first fight. Hughes slyly matches Matt Serra's best friend Joe Scarola, against perhaps the most experienced fighter in the lot, former King of the Cage Champion Mac Danzig.

HOW WILL THE THIAGO ALVES VS. MARTIN KAMPMANN FIGHT END AT UFC ON FX 2?
Alves def. Kampmann via TKO/KO
Alves def. Kampmann via submission
Alves def. Kampmann via decision
Kampmann def. Alves via TKO/KO
Kampmann def. Alves via submission
Kampmann def. Alves via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!